Category: vigil

Israel revokes licences for aid organisations


37 aid organisations had their licences revoked on 1st January

January 2026

As if the suffering in Gaza was not enough, the Israeli government has announced the ending of licences for 37 aid organisations operating in Gaza and the West Bank. Unwra has already been banned. The latest batch include major aid organisations without which, much of the life of the Palestinians will become intolerable. They include Médicins sans Frontières who operate in most of what’s left of the hospitals, Norwegian Refugee Council, Action Aid and many others. These provide vital services and importantly provide logistical and distribution services in what is a wrecked environment.

Haaretz has summed up the situation well. Israel has pushed its responsibility onto aid organisations and then carried out a sustained smear campaign accusing them of collaborating with Hamas and placed endless obstacles in the way of bringing in aid including doctors and medical staff. This is the latest step in a policy which has been both ‘cruel and amateurish’ in its treatment of Gaza’s civilian population.

This latest move comes after what are familiar allegations made by Israeli spokespeople such as Amichai Chikli who is Israeli Diaspora Affairs Minister. His and his government’s allegations have not been supported by evidence. Since journalists are not allowed into Gaza independent verification of the various claims cannot be made.

High death toll of aid and medical staff

Israel has demanded the names of all staff operating for the aid organisations which they have refused to do. Working in the territory is extremely dangerous. 579 aid workers and 1,700 health workers have been killed since October 7th 2023. 256 journalists have also died sometimes by sniper fire. To provide these names would put staff under extreme risk.

The situation in Gaza is unimaginable. Vast numbers are living in tented communities. Sewage systems have been destroyed. Clean water supplies are limited. Food is scarce. Thousands suffer medical conditions for which they cannot get treatment. Some aid is getting in but nowhere near enough. It may seem absurd but one item which Israel will not allow in is tent poles. These are classed as ‘dual-use’ and clearly means even erecting a tent extremely difficult. However there are reports of some dual-use materials being allowed in by commercial actors in a kind of organised black market system.

Vigils continue

The 109th vigil was held in Salisbury and around 30 attended in what seemed a very quiet City. A video of the vigil is available thanks as ever to Peter Gloyns.

109 vigils but still no sign of the local MP John Glen who is reported to be a member of the Conservative Friends of Israel. He has never referred to the vigils attended by many of his constituents, in his weekly Salisbury Journal piece. He has just become a board member of the Christian organisation Alabare.

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Last vigil of 2025


The 108th vigil held in Salisbury

Around 30 attended the latest vigil the need for which has not diminished. Indeed it could be argued that the need is greater than ever since the topic has slid from news programmes and reporting. The Ukraine situation remains in the news as missiles and drones continue to rain down on the population there. There is talk of a peace deal and there are some optimistic noises but realistically it seems very unlikely. President Putin can see that the US simply wants the problem to go away and that Europe is too feeble and divided to represent any kind of a threat. Any ‘peace’ deal will be temporary.

Another supposed peace deal the Americans have brokered is Gaza where again reality is a long way from the rhetoric coming out of Washington.

“It is one of the most devastated places on earth” Alessandro Mrakic, head of the UN Development Programmes Gaza Office

Sky News reports that Israel will not allow heavy lifting equipment into Gaza. This obviously means the process of clearing the mountains of rubble cannot begin.

Flooding has hit the area and with people living in tents and makeshift accommodation, life is grim for Palestinians. Amnesty reports that ‘devastation from torrential rains was ‘utterly preventable’ and was fuelled by Israel’s ongoing restrictions on the entry of critical supplies to repair infrastructure’.

Israel has already seized a substantial part of the territory and almost all the cultivable parts. There is fresh evidence that the ‘Yellow Line’ is being quietly extended with fortifications being established beyond it. Satellite images show that around 53% of Gaza is now controlled by Israel. Palestinians coming near are shot by snipers or quadcopters. 414 have now been killed since the ceasefire. The death toll is put at 70,937 according to the The Peninsular Qatar and 171,192 injured. Foreign journalists are not allowed into Gaza and the BBC has reported that the Knesset has passed a law to close down yet more foreign broadcasters.

The need for the vigils continue. The next will be on 3rd January at 5pm.

Main photo: UN, tile photos, Salisbury Amnesty

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Vigil No. 107


Latest vigil – the last before Christmas – attracts strong attendance

December 2025

Over 40 attended this latest peace vigil in Salisbury. That we should feel it necessary to continue is an indication that genuine peace in the area does not seem to be on the horizon. The BBC programme World at One during the week has transmitted from the West Bank and Jerusalem and has witnessed some of the violence against Palestinians. The presenter was surprised at young boys going out morning and evening to attack homes and property. Because they are under age they cannot be stopped, touched or in any way prevented without dire consequences it was explained.

The aftermath of the horrific attack on Jews who were killed or injured on Bondi Beach, Australia continues. An uplifting story from the tragedy was the actions of a local man Ahmed al Ahmed who wrestled the gun of one of the attackers. Some of the hardliners interviewed by the BBC seem to imply that all Arabs are motivated by a desire to kill Jews. That there are some cannot be denied in the same way that some Jews want to see all Palestinians killed or removed. But are these the majority? Reports today are of members of a Jewish pro-Palestine group who have been arrested as part of the crackdown on protests by the Labour government. An irony indeed. There are Jewish groups who are in favour of fair treatment of Palestinians one such is Jewish Network for Palestine.

It is noteworthy that this group has called out the support of the BBC for Israel and its genocide. The claim by some Israelis (on one of the BBC interviews mentioned above) that support for a Palestinian state is a ‘reward for terrorism’ is weakened by these Jewish groups. They claim – which is never challenged by the BBC and other media interviewers – that the violence started on the October 7th two years ago, conveniently forgets the horrific violence on Arabs and Palestinians in 1948/49.

The photo of a key is a symbol of when people lost their homes in 1948/49, and latterly in Gaza, kept their keys in the hope of return.

A video of the vigil can be seen here. Video and photo by courtesy of Peter Gloyns.

107 vigils attended mostly by local people but no sign of the local MP, Mr John Glen. Neither is there a mention of any of the vigils in his weekly piece in the Salisbury Journal. He is reported to be a member of the Conservatives Friends of Israel group. The link explains the range and power of this underreported organisation. A large number of MPs are members and the question is: why are MPs like Mr Glen members of a lobbying organisation for a single country? Are they not there to a) support their constituents and b) to take impartial decisions in the interests of the UK? What is their attitude to genocide and apartheid?

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Good attendance at vigil


December 2025

UPDATED

A good attendance at the 106th vigil in Salisbury with around 40 of us there. We were joined by some by some passers-by which is always encouraging.

News about Gaza has been eclipsed by the continuing war in Ukraine and the appalling attack on Jews on Bondi Beach killing 15 people on Sunday 14th. The Australians say this is not a terrorist attack but the motives remain unclear.

Current Gaza situation

The Catholic Standard reports that ‘blanket bombing has ceased’ although there are still skirmishes and attacks. There is still insufficient aid reaching the strip they report. The UN reports that there is now a risk of flooding with the problem of large numbers living in tents and inadequate accommodation. Al Jazeera has warned of the problems of building collapse. Since many structures are badly damaged if not demolished completely, people are sheltering in dangerous conditions. There is a combination of rain and instability.

The latest death toll is 70,117. More medical facilities are becoming partly functional again the UN reports but nowhere near adequate for the needs of the people living there.

CBS say the talks are at ‘a critical moment’ with only one deceased hostage yet to be handed over to the Israelis. Around 500 have been killed in the last month or so seeking food and a report in Haaretz that IDF soldiers have been told by their commanders to shoot at unarmed [Palestinians] seeking food has been strongly denied by Benjamin Netanyahu and the Defense Secretary Israel Katz as a ‘blood libel’.

A statement by the IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamin saying that the “Yellow Line is a new border line” is a matter of concern. The line with reports of it being fortified, swallows around half of Gaza and cordons off nearly all the arable and cultivable land leaving only sand and the coast for the Palestinians. Any chance of a viable state of Palestine seems remote if this becomes a permanent situation and will only act as a source of future conflict.

There is still no sign of the local MP, Mr John Glen, at any of the 106 vigils nor any mention of them in his weekly column in the Salisbury Journal. He is reported to be a member of the Conservative Friends of Israel lobbying organisation.

Picture from the vigil courtesy of Peter Gloyns

Video of the vigil

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‘They think it’s all over …’


Vigil 105 makes it clear it ‘ain’t over yet’

December 2025

The title comes from the 1966 World Cup and in that case the final goal sealed the match. Today, in Gaza the privation and death continue but at a lower level. Vigil 105 was well attended with around 30 including some visitors from Portsmouth. A video, produced by Peter Gloyns can be seen here. We continue because injustice continues, and Israel continues to oppress the Palestinians seemingly without let.

As we noted last week, attention has shifted back to Ukraine which is suffering a steady bombardment from Russia with no realistic or reasonable likelihood of peace on the horizon. From President Putin’s point of view, he seems to have the American ambassador Steve Witkoff where he wants him, the Europeans are too weak and divided to do anything so he can continue the war of attrition for some time to come.

Risk of illusion

The ‘ceasefire’ ‘in Gaza has now been in place for 2 months and since that time, 360 Palestinians have died, 70 of whom were children. Amnesty alleges that Israel is still committing genocide in Gaza but the international attention has diminished much to the relief of the Israeli government. It contends that the very term ‘ceasefire’ ‘risks creating a dangerous illusion that life in Gaza is returning to normal’.

Israel has created a ‘green zone’ which contains most of the arable land and any Palestinian entering it is likely to be shot. The Palestinians have been left with around 40% of their previous territory. The good news is that the number of trucks entering has increased although Unwra is still banned.

The plain fact is that misery still persists with little sign of a realistic end. Negotiations take place but without Palestinians being present. They are still being killed albeit at a lower rate. They share with Ukraine the fact of being a nuisance as far as President Trump and the Americans are concerned. The master deal maker – allegedly – wants the problem solved and ideally for the Palestinians to somehow disappear so the real estate development can start as though no one was there before. Negotiations take place between tyrants with those affected not present.

To note that the local Member of Parliament, Mr John Glen, has never attended a vigil nor referred to them in his weekly column in the local paper. He is reported to be a member of the Conservative Friends of Israel group. We discussed in a previous post the unedifying remarks by the other local MP, Mr Danny Kruger.

Church Times article

Readers might like read a piece in the Church Times by the Dean of Salisbury, The Very Revd Nicholas Papadopulos, DL who attends the vigil from time to time. A report of a talk given by the Dean can be seen here.

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Good attendance at vigil 104


Strong attendance at the latest vigil

November 2025

Despite the cold, around 35 attended the latest vigil and the level of attention was quite high. Most attention is focused on Ukraine and the situation there looks dire. With mass desertions from the army, the West and the US failing to provide adequate arms and intelligence, and a quite massive corruption scandal reaching almost to the top, Ukraine looks soon to be doomed. How long Zelensky can remain is moot. Here is a video of the vigil.

Both Gaza and Ukraine seem to symbolise the death of the post war new world order. These tragic events were not supposed to happen. But Russia has gratuitously attacked a sovereign nation and the combination of support from China and India is able to gradually destroy Ukraine, piece by piece.

Europe is divided and ineffective. As ever it is the ordinary people who suffer deprivation and death. The creation of the United Nations and the agreeing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 was supposed to usher in a world where the atrocities of WWII were never to be repeated. As we reported in our previous post, a supposed civilised nation which boasts western values, is engaged in barbaric torture and mistreatment of the Palestinian people including women and children. Another country – a member of the Security Council no less – attacks another nation, uses torture and abducts children. There is a new world order, just not the one intended in 1942.

Photo: Peter Gloyns

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Large crowd attends 100th vigil


Around 90 attend the 100th vigil

November 2025

It is astonishing to report that around 90 people attended the silent vigil in Salisbury’s market place. There have been a few occasions over the past 2 years when we have considered stopping, usually after a ceasefire or peace initiative when some might have believed that the killing was over. The recent ceasefire was no exception with a huge amount of fanfare from President Trump supported by a degree of pressure on Israel to stop. Well, it hasn’t lasted with over 100 killed on Tuesday and the creation of a semi-permanent line being established taking yet more territory from Gaza. Hamas have returned the remaining live hostages and Israel has released 250 prisoners and 1,700 ‘detainees’.

There are arguments about the remaining dead hostages with Hamas claiming that they are finding it difficult to locate them in the rubble. As Israel will not allow foreign journalists into Gaza, truth is hard to determine but it would seem probable that Hamas’s account is likely.

We put detainees in inverted commas because the hostages taken by Hamas on their violent raid on October 7th two years ago received, rightly, considerable coverage and few will be unaware of the numbers killed or taken. Media coverage has consistently used the word ‘hostage’ for those taken by Hamas. Those taken by Israel – in considerably larger numbers and who were subject to horrific treatment and torture – are referred to as ‘detainees’. British media has continued with this fiction since the conflict began.

The death toll in Gaza is nearly 69,000.

That such large numbers turn out on a Saturday evening is a testimony to the strongly held convictions about many aspects of the conflict. Whilst acknowledging the brutal nature of Hamas and the horrific attack on October 7th, the destruction of Gaza, the imposition of a food and medicine blockade and the wanton killing of women and children has profoundly shocked many. The British government’s continued support for Israel – directly and covertly – has also produced great anger.

UK arms sales reached a record level in June and the notion that the UK has ‘robust’ measures to control such sales is in tatters according to Campaign Against the Arms Trade. Exact details are impossible to determine as the licensing is vague and because of secrecy. The plain fact is that we continue to supply arms and overfly Gaza despite the appalling carnage that has taken place there.

One hundred vigils and no sign of the local MP Mr John Glen at any of them nor any mention in his weekly piece in the Salisbury Journal. Mr Glen is thought to be a member of Conservative Friends of Israel.

A short video is available here thanks to Peter Gloyns. We shall be back (sadly) on November 8th.

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The 99th vigil


The vigils continue as peace is still very uncertain

October 2025

The 99th vigil took place in Salisbury market place on 25th with over 35 in attendance. The question we continue to ask ourselves is ‘should we continue?’ The ceasefire on 10 October was thought by some to mark some kind of end to hostilities and with talk of peacekeepers and much glad-handing, it might have hinted at an end to it all. We continue because it does not look to be promising. Fundamental issues remain and the distrust is very deep. There is little sign of a genuine rapprochement. The West Bank violence continues and there is no plan to resolve the plight of Palestinians there and the attacks they are subject to show no sign of ending.

A podcast on Haaretz discusses the current situation and makes the point that Netanyahu is unhappy with the agreement. The Americans are ‘keeping a watchful eye on [him]’ they report. Israel has been reminded they are not the only stakeholder in the area and the bombing of Qatar was clearly a major mistake – perhaps a hubristic mistake – by the government. JD Vance, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff have all been in Israel as part of the US plan to maintain momentum.

Israel is feeling the pressure but so is Hamas and the lack of clarity over their role is a factor. They were to hand over all weapons but they are busy settling scores with the various crime groups – some supported by Israel – and acting as a quasi police force. Hostage bodies are being handed over but finding them does seem to be a genuine problem.

Israel has not allowed independent media into Gaza. However, with the promise of an external force of some kind being discussed, the ending of this bar may be on the cards it has been reported.

A video of this vigil thanks to Peter Gloyns for preparing it. A letter was published in last week’s Salisbury Journal by one of the attendees at our vigils. An interesting article in the Observer (26th) discusses how Israelis will have to come to terms with their PTSD as time goes by.

November 1st will be our 100th vigil so we hope many will turn out for the half an hour.

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Letter published on the vigil


A letter was published this week in the Salisbury Journal on line

October 2025

“There is a group of people in Salisbury who have given their time to spend 97 Saturdays [actually 98] in a row standing outside the library at 5 pm calling for peace for all those in the Middle East, particularly for the people in Gaza. I am proud of these, mainly elderly, citizens for standing quietly and with dignity, to bear witness to the horrifying events we have seen every day on TV and on our phones and to call for it to stop.

“Last week at the Vigil, I heard a passer-by ask why it was all old people standing there? Perhaps it’s

because they are a generation who lived closer to World War 2 with parents who were directly affected by the senseless horror of war. Perhaps they can imagine what it means when UNICEF reports that ‘an average of 28 children are killed in Gaza every day, the equivalent of an entire classroom’. Perhaps they just have more wisdom than the rest of us and know “hate breeds hate”, as one of their posters reads.

“This is not a demonstration but rather a silent vigil. As one of the group says, “silence is more powerful than words”. There are no chants and no arguments. As the weeks have passed, more people attend, and sometimes there have been more than 50 people there. Now the world waits as we hope the fragile ceasefire will hold. I think that the group will continue to bear witness to the actions on all sides. We hope for a just peace and safety for all.

“The group would love to have more younger members. Growing our numbers is still important even with the ceasefire, as the situation is not resolved. Our government must take notice that UK citizens want it to fulfil its pledge to support a viable Palestinian State.

“On November 1, the 100th Peace Vigil will take place. Will you join us outside the library at 5 pm and give 30 minutes of your time?“

Sarah Nicholson Barbour

See Facebook page: Sarum Concern for Israel / Palestine

See Instagram: @salisburypeacevigils

The letter was published in the print edition on 23 October.

There is a really good YouTube video of a discussion of the current situation with Daniel Levy and a journalist from Declassified UK. Levy points to many failings in the current process including the point that any idea of a Palestine state is just an exercise in creating a kind of Bantustan: the homeland for black people creating by the then South African state as part of their Apartheid policy. This is of a piece with the Apartheid policy operating in Israel and recognising that they are operating a colonial enterprise. He enjoins us not to be distracted from the real issues and the need for accountability to take place. Politicians are all too keen to say ‘move on’ these days. He doesn’t think much of Tony Blair’s mooted role in nation building.

A letter critical of Israel’s actions in Gaza written by Jewish people has been published. They say the ‘unconscionable actions by Israel amount to genocide’.

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97th vigil


The 97th vigil in Salisbury – peace at last in the region?

October 2025

This vigil, the 97th, took place after ceasefire and hostage release deal was agreed a few days ago. The remaining hostages will be released very soon – maybe tomorrow (Sunday) – and a significant number of Palestinians will be released from Israel jails. The bombing appears to have stopped and thousands are returning to what’s left of their homes in north Gaza. The IDF has pulled back and now occupies less of Gaza than recently.

With the ceasefire underway and negotiations continuing concerning the 20 point plan initiated by the Americans, we wondered, as we said in our last post, whether to continue. A kind of answer was delivered at this vigil when well over 40 attended with a number of new faces, and 29 cars and other vehicles, sounded their horns in recognition.

A video of the vigil is available here produced by Peter Gloyns to whom we are grateful.

Needless to say we wish the process well and hope the negotiations bear fruit. We would like nothing more than to stay home on a Saturday evening. Will it last? The first thing to note is that it was forced on both sides by the Trump administration and their shift in tone followed the bombing of Qatar where they have their major Middle Eastern base.

Peace will last if both sides see it as being in their best interests to do so. It is not clear that is the case and there are extreme positions on each side. Israel has suffered in the conflict with a rising deficit, low growth of around 1% and a large exodus of skilled people. Since the tech sector is a major part of their economy, this is of concern. Foreign direct investment is falling and the shekel is weak. It is close to becoming a pariah state as witnessed at the UN with the hall emptying when Netanyahu arrived to speak. Despite this, the resolve to destroy Hamas and prevent a Palestinian state is a powerful force.

Hamas has been seriously weakened and Iran is not at present able to offer the same level of support to the various terrorist groups in the region.

We will continue with the vigils in the hope that the ceasefire continues. At present there seems no prospect of a Palestinian state.

The Salisbury MP, Mr John Glen, has never appeared at these vigils nor mentioned them in his weekly column in the local paper. He is listed as being a member of the well funded Conservative Friends of Israel group.

Image: The South African

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